Henry Hofschneider, special assistant to the DLNR secretary, said they have already prepared their own comment to the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation regarding issues that have to be addressed with concerning the Northern Islands.
Upon request of the Northern Islands Mayor’s Office, Rep. Justo S. Quitugua, D-Saipan, introduced H.B. 16-146 to grant former Northern Islands residents land titles and pave the way for the development of a fourth senatorial district comprising those islands, which will then be entitled to have three senators and one House member.
Northern Islands Mayor Valentin I. Taisakan, whose second and final term in office ends in Jan. 2010, said there is a need for a village and agricultural homestead program for Sarigan, Alamagan, Pagan and Agrihan.
Taisakan said former residents want to return to the Northern Islands.
But Hofschneider said he doubts if former residents really want to go back on islands without the necessary infrastructure such as schools, health centers, drinking water facilities, roads, electricity, transportation and a communication system.
He said these development projects will be very costly.
Any project in the Northern Islands will be much expensive than those on Saipan, he said, adding that the shipping costs alone will be astronomical.
But Hofschneider said they are not totally opposed to the idea of bringing back people to the Northern Islands, but they doubt if it is really feasible.
Besides the prohibitive cost of any development plan for these islands, DLNR is also concerned about the wildlife that will be affected by a sudden growth in number of residents, Hofschneider said.
Species that ate almost extinct on Saipan can still found in the Northern Islands and these need to be protected, he added.
